Part 14 (1/2)

He shudders. ”I don't even think my grandma used the word moxie. And she died at ninety.”

My face bunches. ”You callin' me old, boss?”

”Nah. Just an old soul, I think.” For a reason unknown to me, his words make my chest pang. My smile slides off my face. I suddenly feel very awkward. James is by my side in an instant. ”Hey. I'm sorry.”

I paste on a small smile. ”No, don't be sorry. You're right on the money.” He looks down at me expectantly. ”Really, it's not what you said, more of me not being happy with how I've been doing things lately.”

Without a word, he walks across the room and picks up two chairs. He brings them over to me and places them facing each other. I sit in one while he sits opposite me. ”Talk to me, Helena.”

James is a friendly guy. I can talk to him. At least, I feel like I can talk to him. It would be nice to cement a friends.h.i.+p here in New York. Opening up to him may be the way to do that. We've already spoken about so much already. I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I try again. Nothing. Finally, I swallow and start, ”Why is it that the reason I started to like a person is also the same reason I started to dislike that very person?”

It's true. The reason I started to like Max was for his flirty, lighthearted ways. So it doesn't make sense for me to dislike him being flirty now, does it?

James's lips purse in thought as he thinks on his answer. ”Maybe you saw something in that person that you wished you had in yourself. And maybe, because you're very different from that person, you started to develop a jealousy towards them for not being able to adapt that trait to your life.”

A sad smile tugs at my lips. ”He rejected me.” I watch James wince and quickly add, ”But I don't think he evens knows it.”

He shrugs. ”Lena, from what I know about guys, being that I am one, is...we can be very stupid sometimes.”

I chuckle, but cover my face with my hands in embarra.s.sment over having this conversation with my boss. ”It's just that I've seen him recently, and he's been sweet. Like, too sweet. Annoyingly funny too. It's really p.i.s.sing me off.”

”Oh, yeah. Sweet, funny guys totally suck,” he deadpans.

I laugh-cry, ”See what I mean? I'm an a.s.s!”

When he reaches over to take my hand, I look up at him in surprise. He responds gently, ”You're not an a.s.s. I don't think you've been an a.s.s a day in your life.”

”I told my sister to f.u.c.k off this morning, and when the guy next to me looked at me funny, I told him to f.u.c.k off too. Then I sent my other sister a text telling her I hate her.”

He blinks.

And blinks.

And blinks again.

He shrugs. ”Yeah, I got nothin'.”

We laugh together. ”I'm sorry. I don't even know why I brought this up.”

”You brought it up 'cause it's bothering you and you needed to talk to someone.” He smiles. ”I'm actually happily surprised you talked to me about it. Thank you for trusting me.”

I roll my eyes. ”Oh, please. You know you're awesome.”

He tilts his head slightly and deliberates, ”I do. I really do.” He winces when I play punch his arm. ”Ouch! Okay, okay, I'm joking! But thanks.”

We stand and I ask, ”Have you been to Icing on the Cake? It's a bakery somewhere around here.”

He exaggerates heavy breathing. ”Uh, yeah. It only has the best cakes, cupcakes, and pie in New York.”

I'm overcome with jealousy. I scratch at my arm like a junkie needing her next fix. ”I need a cupcake, James. I need it soon. I'm a once-a-day kind of girl. It keeps me sane. I've already been a day without one; I can't go another.”

He grins. ”Sweet tooth?”

I breathe, ”You have no idea.”

”I can take you there after work, show you where it is.”

Relief flows through me at knowing I'll have delicious baked goods soon enough. ”Thank you. I just need you to show me once and I'll be set.”

He smiles. ”No problem. We've got Ceecee in at three o'clock. We don't have any other afternoon appointments. We can go after that.”

Can this guy be any more awesome? Really? ”You're my hero.”

He winks at me, and then walks out of the room. All I'm left asking myself is why I'm so unaffected by that wink. My brain answers for me.

It's not the wrong wink.

It's the wrong guy.

Helena James and I stretch before Ceecee gets in. Honestly, I can't wait to see her. I haven't seen her since Nat's wedding, and even then, I didn't get a chance to speak to her before Nik and Max's mom, Cecilia, took all the kids for a sleepover so the adults could party on. I wonder what James will do about her derision to exercise. After all, if a teenager doesn't want to do something, it doesn't matter about the reasoning; they aren't going to do it.

A knock at the door sounds, and James and I both lift our heads.

Max pops his head inside the room. ”Hey, I thought you'd be in here.” He walks over to us, and in comes Ceecee right behind him.

My smile fades when I see she looks about ready to spit fire. Her auburn hair is braided, and she wears a loose tee and sweats. She's grown since I last saw her. She's stuck somewhere between a child and a woman, in that awkward stage when your body is changing. You start to get b.o.o.bs, and suddenly, there's hair where there wasn't before. Being a teenager sucked. I feel for her.

James smiles down at her. ”Hey, C. How you doing?” She shrugs with a face of stone, not willing to look up at him.

I try. ”Hey Ceecee, remember me?” She nods once without looking up. My bravado fails, but I fake it. ”You've grown so much. You're becoming a fine young woman.” I look over at Max. ”I can see why your dad is so proud.”

He smiles at me. A warm smile I hadn't yet seen before. It almost knocks me on my a.s.s. She looks up at me cautiously before lowering her gaze again. Her jaw steels.

Max looks down at his daughter, eyes narrowed. ”Don't be rude.”

Ceecee mutters through gritted teeth, ”Hi.”

d.a.m.n. We've got our work cut out today.

James looks to Max, then jerks his chin towards the door. ”Mind if I have a word outside?”

My eyes widen as panic settles over me.

No! Don't leave me alone with the broody teenager!